Austria
Research universities, applied study and specialist arts.
Study overview
Austria combines broad public universities with technical, medical, arts and applied-science institutions. German remains important, particularly for undergraduate study. Qualification equivalence, programme language and any selection procedure determine the entry route.
Public Tuition Example / Year
Two semesters at EUR 726.72 for many third-country student-permit holders. Status exemptions apply. The Austrian Students' Union contribution (currently EUR 26.20/semester) is extra.
Oead Guide / Month
OeAD, Austria's agency for education and internationalisation, gives this approximate guide. City and rent affect the total; travel and initial setup are additional.
Typical degree length: Bachelor’s commonly 3 years; master’s commonly 2. Diploma, professional and continuing-education routes can differ.
Fields: Engineering; natural sciences; business; environmental studies; music and arts.
Official references
- https://studyinaustria.at/en/study/institutions
- https://studyinaustria.at/en/plan-your-studies/find-your-programme
- https://studyinaustria.at/en/tuition
- https://studyinaustria.at/en/live-and-work/living-costs
- https://studyinaustria.at/en/plan-your-studies/application-and-admission
- https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/residence-permit-student-no-mobility-programme
Study and admission
Degrees and admission routes
Identify the institution type, qualification and teaching language before planning an application.
Qualifications and institutional choices
Austria combines public research universities, specialist arts universities, universities of applied sciences, private institutions and university colleges of teacher education. The usual first degree is a bachelor’s, commonly three years and at least 180 ECTS credits. A relevant master’s commonly adds two years; diploma programmes retain longer integrated structures in some subjects. Doctoral education centres on independent research. Compare the actual award and curriculum, particularly for professional or continuing-education programmes. A course marketed with a familiar degree title may have different entry requirements, duration and professional uses.
Foreign qualifications and applications
Applications go to the chosen institution rather than to OeAD. For undergraduate entry, the institution assesses the secondary qualification and any subject-specific requirements. Master’s admission normally requires a relevant first degree, with the previous curriculum considered alongside its level. Prepare certificates, transcripts and required translations or legalisation in the precise form requested. A university of applied sciences may also consider a relevant vocational qualification for bachelor’s entry. Programme selection deadlines can precede general enrolment dates, so build the timetable from the course’s own current instructions.
Teaching language and preparation
German remains central to Austrian higher education, although English-language options are particularly important at postgraduate level. Requirements are set by each institution and programme. At the University of Vienna, German-taught bachelor’s and diploma applicants generally need A2 evidence when applying and C1 for admission to regular study. An approved university preparation programme can help applicants meet prescribed supplementary requirements, but it is not automatic degree admission. English-taught programmes have their own evidence rules; check accepted certificates, minimum results and exemptions before paying for a language examination.
Selection tests and artistic assessment
There is no single entrance examination governing every Austrian degree. Universities may use selection procedures in subjects such as psychology, business or computer science; universities of applied sciences use programme-specific admission processes that may combine documents, tests and interviews. Human medicine at the public medical universities in Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck and at JKU Linz uses MedAT; dentistry has the relevant MedAT route where offered. The test and official preparation materials are in German. Arts institutions assess artistic aptitude, so portfolios, auditions and their registration dates need separate attention.
Costs and the study experience
Build the budget around the actual programme and city, then plan academic and residence requirements separately.
Tuition and a realistic budget
For many third-country students holding a Residence Permit Student, public-university tuition is generally EUR 726.72 per semester. EU/EEA students and equivalent-status groups normally pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two tolerance semesters; later fees and exemptions follow the applicable rules. All students also pay the compulsory student-union contribution, currently EUR 26.20 per semester. Universities of applied sciences and private providers set different fees. OeAD’s current living-cost guide is about EUR 1,300 monthly. Treat these as figures checked in September 2026, not fixed prices for every 2027 intake.
Housing needs its own application
Admission does not normally include an allocated room. Students arrange accommodation through residence providers, shared flats or private rentals, and the appropriate option depends on the teaching location as well as the city. OeAD’s guide uses approximately EUR 450–700 monthly for accommodation, with local and contractual variation. Compare furnished and unfurnished offers and identify what the rent includes. Before committing, establish the deposit, booking period, cancellation terms and commute. Budget separately for arrival costs and temporary accommodation if the tenancy begins after travel or an early entrance examination.
Credits assessment and independent work
ECTS credits represent total academic workload, including classes, preparation, assignments and examinations. In Austria one credit corresponds to 25 hours of work; a full-time semester commonly comprises around 30 credits. At the University of Vienna, the grading scale runs from 1, the strongest result, to 5, a failure; 4 is the minimum passing grade. Course and examination registration have their own deadlines, and continuous-assessment seminars may require attendance. Read the curriculum and course catalogue before choosing modules, especially where prerequisites, laboratory places or thesis preparation affect progression.
Recognition and residence are separate
An Austrian admission offer does not itself establish a right to enter, reside or work in the country. Third-country students planning a stay beyond six months generally need the relevant residence permission, supported by financial, accommodation and insurance evidence. EU/EEA applicants follow a different route. Recognition also depends on purpose: entry to further study, professional licensing and an employer’s assessment are separate questions. Before choosing a regulated profession, check requirements with the authority where you intend to practise. An accredited programme or a student residence permit does not promise professional registration or permanent settlement.
Entrance and language assessments
MedAT
Applies to: Public human-medicine entry at Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and JKU Linz; dentistry where offered.
Programme-specific medical admission test, with instructions and official preparation material in German. Registration, test location, ranking and applicable allocation rules must be checked for the intended intake.
German language certificates and supplementary examination
Applies to: German-taught programmes according to the receiving institution.
Accepted certificates and required levels vary. University of Vienna bachelor’s and diploma entry illustrates the distinction between A2 at application and C1 for regular admission; an approved preparation route may lead to the prescribed supplementary examination.
Institutional tests interviews and auditions
Applies to: Selected university programmes, universities of applied sciences and arts institutions.
Selection may involve a written or oral test, interview, portfolio or artistic audition. There is no single national score accepted as a substitute for every provider’s procedure.
https://studyinaustria.at/en/plan-your-studies/application-and-admission
Scholarships and funding routes
TU Graz High Potentials scholarships
Support: Up to EUR 8,800 for bachelor’s students or EUR 17,600 for master’s students over up to two years, under the current published scheme.
Eligibility: Strong academic results; applicants from Austria and abroad. Individual sponsor awards specify eligible programmes and additional conditions.
Application: Apply through the relevant bachelor’s or master’s scholarship procedure. The published winter-2027 windows are 15 October 2026–15 February 2027 for master’s and 5 May–7 July 2027 for bachelor’s; recheck before applying.
Conditions: Competitive and separate from admission. Maximum amounts cover up to two years, not each year. Formerly called TU Graz 100; older pages quote lower amounts.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships
Support: Selected scholarships cover participation costs and contribute towards travel, visa costs and living expenses.
Eligibility: Applicants worldwide with a bachelor’s degree or recognised equivalent; final-year students must graduate before the programme begins. Subject and language criteria are consortium-specific.
Application: Apply directly to the chosen consortium, using the European Commission catalogue to check the current universities, study locations and scholarship round.
Conditions: Only listed participating programmes qualify. Study normally spans multiple countries; this is not a general scholarship for any Austrian master’s. Admission and scholarship selection may have different outcomes.
ISTA funded PhD employment
Support: Employment salary, full social-security coverage and research-conference support; no tuition or PhD application fee. Published 2026 gross salaries range from EUR 3,053 to EUR 3,673 monthly, paid 14 times yearly, depending on entry qualification and progress.
Eligibility: Applicants with a relevant science bachelor’s or master’s degree; international selection assesses research potential and programme fit.
Application: Apply to ISTA’s graduate-school call with the specified academic records, statement and references; shortlisted candidates complete the selection process.
Conditions: A salaried doctoral route rather than an undergraduate scholarship. Employment and continued support depend on the programme’s conditions and satisfactory progress. Visa and relocation expenses are not covered.
Ernst Mach Grant for study at an Austrian university of applied sciences
Support: Maintenance support for a study stay of four to ten months under the relevant call; check the current grant rate and any travel provisions.
Eligibility: Students enrolled at universities in the call’s eligible countries; bachelor’s applicants must have completed at least four semesters. The published 2026/27 call sets a maximum age of 35 and requires acceptance by an Austrian UAS as an exchange scholar.
Application: Secure the host institution’s support, then submit the OeAD scholarship application with the required academic evidence and recommendations.
Conditions: This is an exchange grant, not funding for a complete Austrian degree. The reviewed 2026/27 application deadline has passed; consult the next published call rather than assuming identical 2027/28 terms.
Selected university profiles
Official national study-information directory covering universities, universities of applied sciences, private institutions and teacher-education colleges. These profiles are a selected directory, not a ranking or an exhaustive register of all programmes.
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna combines a broad subject range with research and teacher education. Its academic fields include law, psychology, translation, computer science, life sciences and the humanities, alongside both Catholic and Protestant theology. Doctoral schools and academies provide organised research communities and transferable-skills training. Students choosing this university should distinguish the curriculum and language of their particular programme from the institution’s overall breadth, especially when comparing undergraduate and postgraduate options.
- Subjects
- Humanities; Natural sciences; Law; Social sciences; Computer science
- Address
- Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria
- Website
- https://www.univie.ac.at/
TU Wien
TU Wien concentrates on engineering, natural sciences and the built environment. Its faculties cover architecture and planning, civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, informatics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics and technical chemistry. Research themes connect computational science, quantum technologies, materials, communications, energy and the environment. This combination provides routes from foundational science into technical applications. The university’s central Vienna location includes the Karlsplatz main building, where the admissions office handles enrolment enquiries.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Computer science; Architecture; Mathematics; Physics
- Address
- Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna, Austria
- Website
- https://www.tuwien.at/
BOKU University
BOKU University links natural resources and life sciences with engineering, economics and social sciences. Its teaching and research extend from agriculture, forestry and food technology to biotechnology, water, biodiversity and natural hazards. The university’s sustainability focus connects resource management with the protection of habitats and food systems. Its provision includes English-taught and international joint master’s programmes, while research activity also extends to the agrobiotechnology facilities in Tulln outside Vienna.
- Subjects
- Agriculture; Biotechnology; Environmental sciences; Forestry; Food science
- Address
- Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
- Website
- https://boku.ac.at/
- studienservices@boku.ac.at
WU Vienna University of Economics and Business
WU is a specialised public university for economics, business and related legal and social-science disciplines. Its departments include finance, marketing, management, information systems, socioeconomics and public and private law. An English-taught bachelor’s in Business and Economics sits alongside German-language undergraduate options and a range of English-taught master’s programmes. International activities include CEMS participation, university exchanges and short programmes. The Library and Learning Center houses admissions services on the Welthandelsplatz campus.
- Subjects
- Business; Economics; Finance; Business law; Information systems
- Address
- Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria
- Website
- https://www.wu.ac.at/
- studienzulassung@wu.ac.at
University of Graz
The University of Graz offers humanities, law, natural sciences, theology, business and social sciences, together with environmental and educational fields. Its NAWI Graz partnership with Graz University of Technology supports joint natural-science teaching and research, including chemistry, mathematics, physics and biosciences. Climate-change research connects environmental science with economics, sociology, ethics and law. International joint master’s programmes add further cross-university routes. The Welcome Center supports international arrivals and practical questions about settling into Graz.
- Subjects
- Humanities; Natural sciences; Law; Social sciences; Environmental sciences
- Address
- Universitätsplatz 3, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Website
- https://www.uni-graz.at/
- welcome@uni-graz.at
Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology combines engineering and natural sciences across seven faculties. Its subject range includes architecture, civil and mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, chemistry and mathematics. Research-oriented master’s and doctoral study follows scientific undergraduate preparation, with a substantial English-language postgraduate offering. Student project teams work in areas such as automotive technology and robotics. Its NAWI Graz collaboration with the University of Graz also provides shared natural-science programmes and research activity.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Computer science; Architecture; Biotechnology; Mathematics
- Address
- Rechbauerstraße 12, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Website
- https://www.tugraz.at/
- study@tugraz.at
Official references
University of Innsbruck
The University of Innsbruck offers a broad academic portfolio spanning humanities, law, business, natural sciences, engineering and teacher education. Its Alpine setting is reflected in research on mountain regions and climate, alongside established work in physics, molecular biosciences, digital science and scientific computing. Interdisciplinary research platforms connect work across faculties and centres. Applicants should distinguish this comprehensive university from the separate Medical University of Innsbruck, which has its own programmes and admission arrangements.
- Subjects
- Physics; Computer science; Humanities; Business; Earth sciences
- Address
- Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Website
- https://www.uibk.ac.at/
- studienabteilung@uibk.ac.at
Johannes Kepler University Linz
Johannes Kepler University brings together engineering and natural sciences, law, social sciences, economics, business and human medicine. The main campus includes the Science Park, while the medical campus is located near Kepler University Hospital in central Linz. The Linz Institute of Technology supports technological research and development, and a School of Education contributes teacher training. JKU’s admissions office distinguishes general enrolment from programmes requiring a separate selection procedure, including human medicine and selected business degrees.
- Subjects
- Engineering; Natural sciences; Law; Business; Human medicine
- Address
- Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
- Website
- https://www.jku.at/
- admission@jku.at
Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, commonly called PLUS, combines six faculties covering humanities, theology, digital and analytical sciences, law and economics, natural and life sciences, and social sciences. Programmes range from languages and history to data science, geoinformatics, biology and psychology. Its portfolio includes bachelor’s, master’s, diploma and teacher-education routes, with selected master’s programmes taught entirely in English. International collaboration includes the CIVIS alliance and university exchange agreements across multiple subject areas.
- Subjects
- Humanities; Law; Digital sciences; Natural sciences; Social sciences
- Address
- Kapitelgasse 4–6, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Website
- https://www.plus.ac.at/
- studium@plus.ac.at
Montanuniversität Leoben
Montanuniversität Leoben specialises in the resource and materials cycle, connecting geosciences and mineral extraction with processing, metallurgy, engineering, recycling and environmental technologies. Its programmes also include industrial logistics and data science. Shared foundations in mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics and computing support the early stages of technical study. The university lists international master’s routes in mineral resources, materials and related engineering fields. Its Study Support Center provides a central contact for admission, recognition and examination administration.
- Subjects
- Materials science; Mining; Metallurgy; Energy; Recycling technology
- Address
- Franz Josef-Straße 18, 8700 Leoben, Austria
- Website
- https://www.unileoben.ac.at/
- ssc@unileoben.ac.at
Further institutions
| Institution | Location and type | Official website | Book page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of Vienna | Vienna / Public medical university | https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/ | 237 |
| University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna | Vienna / Public veterinary university | https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/ | 237 |
| University of Applied Arts Vienna | Vienna / Public arts university | https://www.dieangewandte.at/ | 237 |
| mdw University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna | Vienna / Public arts university | https://www.mdw.ac.at/ | 237 |
| Academy of Fine Arts Vienna | Vienna / Public arts university | https://www.akbild.ac.at/ | 237 |
| University of Klagenfurt | Klagenfurt am Wörthersee / Public university | https://www.aau.at/ | 237 |
| University for Continuing Education Krems | Krems an der Donau / Public university specialising in continuing education | https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/ | 237 |
| Mozarteum University Salzburg | Salzburg / Public arts university | https://www.moz.ac.at/ | 237 |
| Medical University of Graz | Graz / Public medical university | https://www.medunigraz.at/en/ | 237 |
| University of Music and Performing Arts Graz | Graz / Oberschützen / Public arts university | https://www.kug.ac.at/ | 237 |
| Medical University of Innsbruck | Innsbruck / Public medical university | https://www.i-med.ac.at/ | 237 |
| University of Arts Linz | Linz / Public arts university | https://www.kunstuni-linz.at/ | 237 |
| UAS Technikum Wien | Vienna / University of applied sciences | https://www.technikum-wien.at/ | 237 |
| Hochschule Campus Wien | Vienna / University of applied sciences | https://www.hcw.ac.at/ | 237 |
| FH JOANNEUM | Graz / Kapfenberg / Bad Gleichenberg / University of applied sciences | https://www.fh-joanneum.at/ | 237 |
| University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria | Wels / Hagenberg / Linz / Steyr / University of applied sciences | https://www.fh-ooe.at/ | 237 |
| IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences | Krems an der Donau / University of applied sciences | https://www.imc.ac.at/ | 237 |
| Salzburg University of Applied Sciences | Puch / Kuchl / Salzburg / Schwarzach / University of applied sciences | https://www.fh-salzburg.ac.at/ | 237 |
| MCI The Entrepreneurial School | Innsbruck / University of applied sciences | https://www.mci.edu/ | 237 |
| Central European University | Vienna / Private university | https://www.ceu.edu/ | 237 |